Southern California - Central Coast Century

Check out this great ALS Benefit Ride. www.centralcoastcentury.com
Rode it the past two years and it's comin' up again next month.

Hey, Gearhead, welcome to the forums. :) I'll consider it although it's awfully close to raise the funds. But it looks like a wonderful ride for a very worthy cause.

Merider 1 - Even if you don't raise any funds for ALS, you'll have a GREAT time, and if the ride gets bigger, more recognition, there will be funds coming in year after year.

I read in the ride info that they hope the riders will raise $500. Are we expected to pay that if we can't raise the full amount? I may be able to, and I'd gladly give $$ to the cause, but I can't afford a full $500! :o

No No NO! You're not expected to contribute anything. I, for instance, set my goal at $2K and if I don't raise anything, it's fine. It's just a personal goal. Again, it's a great chance to just get more riders involved and if the donations start flowing in, great. If not, that will come. Last year, we raised upwards of $40K.

No No NO! You're not expected to contribute anything. I, for instance, set my goal at $2K and if I don't raise anything, it's fine. It's just a personal goal. Again, it's a great chance to just get more riders involved and if the donations start flowing in, great. If not, that will come. Last year, we raised upwards of $40K.

Are you one of the organizers? You know this is an excellent place to post the link! I'll think about it since I don't have a ride planned that Saturday and I love that area. :)

I helped organize the first two years, but this year we just had our third child, so I'm just riding and trying to raise some cash.
My friend just turned me on to bikeforums and I'm lovin' it! Can you think of any other areas to post the link to the century?

I helped organize the first two years, but this year we just had our third child, so I'm just riding and trying to raise some cash.
My friend just turned me on to bikeforums and I'm lovin' it! Can you think of any other areas to post the link to the century?

Yes. Post in the No Cal regional forum, Long Distance Forum and Road Cycling Forum. You never know who will see it and may join. :)

I may be up for this, I like the area, too.

I may be up for this, I like the area, too.

If you are, we can carpool! :D

If you are, we can carpool! :D

Yup, that works for me. I wanted another century in July, a coastal one, and this works perfectly!

Does anyone know the route? DanteB?

Yup, that works for me. I wanted another century in July, a coastal one, and this works perfectly!

I just love the area and as it gets warmer, I'm hoping coastal routes will be cooler (relatively speaking, of course - it could be hotter than a tick's ass in that area at that time too!).

You can check out the route at Centralcoastcentury.com, but I'll break it down quickly for you.
Start at Avila
-bike through San Luis Obispo to Morro Bay via Los Osos
-Morro Bay to Cayucos
-Up Whale Rock Reservoire
-Down 46 to Cambria (moonstone beach)
-Back Hwy 1 to Cayucos for a great homemade lunch
-Cayucos back to Los Osos - SLO- and end up in Avila for the BBQ dinner

That sounds like a great route. How challenging is it?

I"ve only been riding for about 5 yrs. now, so I don't have much to compare it to. Most of the ride is undulating hills and flat, and the Whale Rock climb is a little challenging. I think it's about a three mile climb, fairly steep. We just rode in Los Olivos/Solvang to the top of Figueroa, and I can say it's not that challenging. That was a brutal, wicked, amazing ride. Crazy downhill with a long stretch of dirt road.

Anyway, most people have raved about the ride and I've only heard a couple of complaints that, for a benefit ride, it was a little difficult. Always nice to know what you're in for.

That sounds like a great route. How challenging is it?

I can add some detours if it's not enough for you. Feel like doing some 20+% grades?

:p Sure, John, let's do hill repeats too, while we are at it!

Sounds great, Gearhead! Thank you for describing! :)

:p Sure, John, let's do hill repeats too, while we are at it!


ok, I'm up for it!

:rolleyes: YOU would be...:p

I'm on the fence on this. This sounds like a great ride. However, you will have stiff competition against the Healdsburg Harvest Century up in Sonoma Valley. I'm leaning more towards this one if ME, JP, and some other SoCal BFers do it.

I've never heard of the Healdsburg Harvest Century.

Don't be on the fence, Spingineer. It is a great ride and it's a great cause too. Besides, if you've ridden the Healdsburg before, try something new. Paso Robles is, after all, being called the "New Napa." lol

You're good...:D

ME, here's the link for Healdsburg Harvest.

http://www.healdsburg.com/chamber/bike_tour/bike_tour.asp

Tracy's favorite ... I don't think you'll change her mind on that one. I actually haven't done Healdsburg, but I have done Wine Country Century, which goes through the same area.

Don't be on the fence, Spingineer. It is a great ride and it's a great cause too. Besides, if you've ridden the Healdsburg before, try something new. Paso Robles is, after all, being called the "New Napa." lol
hmmm ... being on the fence gets painful ... especially with it poking the bottom of my butt. Anyhow, since ME is doing it, I'll probably do it.

Sounds like a GREAT ride, Spin. Both rides claim beautiful scenery, great food, great time, etc. But . . . The Healdsburg Harvest is lacking one thing that the Central Coast Century is quickly becoming famous for - my wife's amazing pasta salad. I'm salivating just thinking about it. And her . . oops, thought slipped

Sounds like a GREAT ride, Spin. Both rides claim beautiful scenery, great food, great time, etc. But . . . The Healdsburg Harvest is lacking one thing that the Central Coast Century is quickly becoming famous for - my wife's amazing pasta salad. I'm salivating just thinking about it. And her . . oops, thought slipped
:lol: Oh, you are going to fit in here just fine. :D

my wife's amazing pasta salad. I'm salivating just thinking about it. And her . . oops, thought slipped
Oh you know how to pull out your trump card ... I'll stop drooling now.

ME, here's the link for Healdsburg Harvest.

http://www.healdsburg.com/chamber/bike_tour/bike_tour.asp

I hadn't heard of this before either, but it may be perfect since I may be up in Sonoma for the half Vineman (http://www.vineman.com/index_main.php3?l=h) the following day!

I hadn't heard of this before either, but it may be perfect since I may be up in Sonoma for the half Vineman (http://www.vineman.com/index_main.php3?l=h) the following day!
show off :p

UMD, you're killin' me here. I feel like a firefighter trying to contain a blaze. Like an agent trying to convince somebody in the draft why Rosie would have been a better first pick than Greg Oden.
What do I need to do to sweeten the deal here?

show off :p

Sorry I probably should have clarified. MY WIFE will be competing in the Vineman, I will just be there. I'll be standing around all day Sunday so a good century on Saturday would be nice...

Sorry I probably should have clarified. MY WIFE will be competing in the Vineman, I will just be there. I'll be standing around all day Sunday so a good century on Saturday would be nice...
You could do it with her. :D

You could do it with her. :D

Me swim? hahahahahaha. That's the funniest thing I've heard all day :p

Edit: but seriously, she asked for me to do it with her next year.

Me swim? hahahahahaha. That's the funniest thing I've heard all day :p

Edit: but seriously, she asked for me to do it with her next year.

As I recall, at the BBQ last Saturday (after GT), she said you WILL be doing it with her next year. :p I love strong women!

If you are, we can carpool! :DI had a friend who I grew up with die of ALS two years ago. A horrible disease. I'm trying to line up some sponsors now, save some room for me.

I had a friend who I grew up with die of ALS two years ago. A horrible disease. I'm trying to line up some sponsors now, save some room for me.

You wanna carpool up, too?

You wanna carpool up, too?Mmmmmmmm, could be. How far of a drive is it?

This would actually be a great ride to join NorCal and SoCal BFers ... halfway point between the two.

Mmmmmmmm, could be. How far of a drive is it?

It's a shlep. I'm thinking I may drive up the evening before and stay in a cheap room. But it does look as if we are getting a BF group started. :)

Mmmmmmmm, could be. How far of a drive is it?
It's almost 200 miles exactly from my place in Pasadena. I may go up the night before, but come back Saturday, I'm not sure, though, I'd rather give the money to them than Motel 6.

It's almost 200 miles exactly from my place in Pasadena. I may go up the night before, but come back Saturday, I'm not sure, though, I'd rather give the money to them than Motel 6.
Camping??? But then again, you'd have to pay the campground ... :(

Camping??? But then again, you'd have to pay the campground ... :(

I'd love to, but I don't have any equipment anymore.

im into this but i can only say i might do it as ill be coming back from mammoth the day before!!! if im not too destroyed im in!!!

That sounds like a great route. How challenging is it?

hilly comin out of Cayucos; but actually nicely varied through most of it, if the route is as described.
out of Cayucos it looks like you climb Old Creek road - absolutely one of my favorite ride loops, going up Santa Rosa Crk Rd and back down Old Creek (I prefer Santa Rosa up since it such a wonderful climb but really crappy road surface and Old Creek is much better quality for descent). But Old Creek going up is really fine also. I'd guess it'd be the same as climbing up San Marcos Pass for elevation gain.
Should be a great ride and not too warm until you get more inland on 46. Rollin out of SLO to Morro Rock should be a fairly flatish way to ease the legs into the day.
Sounds like it might be fun.
I don;t do organized rides much (like almost never) but this one (based on route) could be considered.
Just don;t think I could do justice to any organized fund raising effort... Maybe I just drop a small check and hit up my employer for a few Dinars.
I usually don't drive much to ridin (unless its USCF race) but I do luv Old Creek Rd, especially if I can tie it into Vineland and then Peachy Cyn - course thats not all in the cards, but the rest is worth it anyway.
I'll check my commitments and see how it all fits...

It sounds like a nice ride, but I've already signed-up for the Windmill Century.

I'm bumping this...

Those of you riding, have fun and be safe. I'm sticking close to home this weekend.

+1 ... I have to pass on this. Visiting dad this weekend, and I should spend some time with him, so I'm staying local too.

ME, wanna do a local ride?